Monday, August 8, 2016

Everyday Tasks That Increase Your Risk of Arthritis

Arthritis
is often associated with inflammation around your joints. This inflammation
causes continual discomfort—both after exercise and during long periods of
inactivity. Factors such as heredity, obesity, and overuse can lead to joint
pain and arthritis, but there are also various everyday tasks that can
contribute to your joint pain.

Poor posture puts
additional stress on your joints.

Many
jobs entail standing for multiple hours at a time. Teachers, for example, must
practice proper posture to avoid knee complications later in life. It is also
important to wear the right footwear to get arch support that lessens the
strain on your knees and distributes the pressure evenly.

Job- and hobby-associated
movements strain your body.

If
you’ve spent years performing manual labor—including any occupations that
require regular heavy-lifting, kneeling, and squatting—you have a much higher
risk of arthritis. Similarly, hobbies such as playing an instrument can add to
this risk. For example, decades of guitar strumming can lead to wrist pain, and
bowing the violin can put extra strain on your neck, elbow, and shoulder.

Wearing high heels increases
pressure on your knees and feet.

For
women, high heels can drastically increase the risk of arthritis in the knees
and feet. Heels force you to stand and walk a certain way, which puts
unnecessary and uneven amounts of pressure on your knees. The unnatural
position of the feet also raises the risk of joint pain, especially if you wear
heels frequently.

Excessive cellphone use
can lead to arthritis in your hands and fingers.

Though
a new phenomenon, frequent texting, browsing, and game playing can result in
lingering joint pain. The repetitive motions—and even the consistent hand
positions—involved with mobile usage add to your risk of arthritis. Cellphones
have become an integral part of everyday life, but it’s crucial not to let them
get in the way of maintaining a happy, healthy lifestyle.

If
you experience persistent joint pain caused by a long-term everyday activity,
stem cell therapy can be an effective treatment option. This noninvasive
procedure repairs damaged tissue and relieves discomfort in your knees and
other joints.